The reflex circuitry originating from the cutaneous receptors of the hand to the first dorsal interosseus muscle

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to use both the probability- and frequency-based analyses methods simultaneously to examine cutaneous silent period induced by strong electrical currents. Subjects were asked to contract their hand muscles so that single motor unit discharged at a rate of approximately 8 Hz. Strong electrical stimuli were delivered to the back of the hand and induced cutaneous silent period in all units. It was found that the duration of the cutaneous silent period (CSP) was significantly longer when the same data were analysed using frequency-based analysis method compared with the probability-based methods.